This is the true immortal of the Taoist sect.

King Jin looked at Wang Yangming, whose eyes were filled with murderous intent, but did not get angry.

After all, no normal man would stand by and watch his fiancée be taken away.

Moreover, he was a talented man like Wang Yangming.

He sighed softly, saying helplessly:

"With the defeat at the northern border, the military might of the Great Li is unparalleled for the time being. The Crown Prince and other pro-peace factions have proposed a marriage alliance to alleviate the immediate crisis, and I... have no choice..."

Wang Yangming's expression changed slightly.

"The Crown Prince...it was the Crown Prince who suggested it?"

The Prince of Jin's thoughts raced, and his previously depressed mood suddenly took a turn for the better.

"Alas, the Crown Prince's actions were out of necessity, as the Great Zhao Dynasty needs a period of respite."

"Only by sacrificing peace can we achieve peace between the two countries."

Wang Yangming's fists clenched involuntarily. He suddenly remembered what the Crown Prince had said when he summoned him that day, and he instantly understood.

"Crown Prince..."

But now is not the time to cause trouble for the Crown Prince. Jiang Ping'an is about to depart, and only an imperial decree from the Emperor can keep her here.

Wang Yangming clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply, pleading:

"Please, Your Highness, plead with His Majesty to rescind his decree."

"Besides a marriage alliance, there must be other ways..."

The Prince of Jin sneered and said:

"Other methods? Tell me, what methods do you have?"

Wang Yangming shook his head and replied:

"This is not the time to discuss this. The most urgent matter is to persuade His Majesty to withdraw his orders and ensure peace..."

The King of Jin looked at Wang Yangming, considered the matter carefully, and finally spoke:

"I will take you to the palace to meet the Emperor. Whether you can persuade him to rescind his decree is up to you..."

Wang Yangming was extremely grateful and immediately set off with Prince Jin to the palace.

Meanwhile, the palace maids and nannies guarding the inner courtyard of the Xianping Prince's Mansion could no longer wait.

He forced his way into the courtyard and said in a deep voice:

"Princess, it's almost time to depart."

Jiang Ping'an looked coldly at the palace matrons and said:

"Who let you in? Get out..."

But how could the people in the palace listen to her?

The old woman gently beckoned, and several lithe palace maids rushed into the courtyard; none of them were young.

"Princess, Her Majesty knows you are quite capable and has specially sent several personal maids to take care of you. Please don't make things difficult for us."

Jiang Ping'an's expression changed slightly.

"What? Do you intend to kidnap me?"

The old woman smiled and replied:

"If the princess does not cooperate, this servant has no other choice but to resort to this tactic..."

Having said that, she took a step back and said coldly:

"Please escort the princess out of the palace..."

The palace maids, who were quite skilled, immediately prepared to make their move.

Jiang Ping'an knew she was no match for them. The other guards in the palace had already been transferred away by the emperor, so there was no one to help her at this time.

Only Qing'er stood in front of her, determined to fight to the death.

A resolute glint flashed in Jiang Ping'an's eyes, and with a flick of his wrist, the short sword was already in his hand.

Then he put it on his own neck and angrily said:

"Don't come any closer, or you'll only get my corpse..."

This immediately terrified the palace maids, leaving them completely flustered.

If Jiang Ping'an dies, these people will definitely not have a good ending.

No one dared to make a move, and for a time, a stalemate ensued.

Meanwhile, Wang Yangming and Prince Jin rushed to the palace and requested an audience outside the Imperial Study.

The emperor was somewhat surprised when the eunuch reported that the Prince of Jin had brought Wang Yangming to request an audience.

He naturally knew why Wang Yangming had come. He had originally planned to talk to Wang Yangming about this matter after Wang Yangming returned home and give him some compensation.

I never expected that he would dare to come to see the emperor about this matter.

"Let them in."

The emperor spoke in a deep voice, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

Upon entering the Imperial Study, Prince Jin bowed respectfully, while Wang Yangming was required to kneel and kowtow.

After the formalities were completed, the emperor did not tell Wang Yangming to rise, but instead asked him calmly:

"What brings you, Minister Wang, to this court?"

Wang Yangming knelt on the ground, his hands unconsciously clenching.

Even in front of the emperor, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

After a moment of hesitation, Wang Yangming finally overcame his fear and said in a trembling voice:

"Your Majesty's grace is beyond my wildest wishes. I dare to ask Your Majesty to rescind your decree and not send Princess Ping'an to Dali for a marriage alliance."

The emperor gave him a cold look and remained silent.

Seeing this, Wang Yangming kowtowed again, his tone becoming even more resolute than before:

"Your Majesty, as the Son of Heaven, your words are law. Since Ping'an has already been betrothed to me, she is a married woman. How can she marry another?"

"This action violates trust, propriety, and morality..."

"Your Majesty, please rescind your order..."

These words startled even the Prince of Jin.

He never expected Wang Yangming to be so bold as to say such things to the emperor.

"Insolence! Wang Yangming, this is utter disrespect, a crime deserving of death..."

The Prince of Jin shouted angrily.

He then knelt down and bowed to the emperor, saying:

"Father, Wang, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, spoke rashly in his haste. Please be magnanimous and do not hold it against him..."

The emperor chuckled softly and looked at Wang Yangming, saying:

"I do owe you something in this matter, and I will make it up to you."

"Personal feelings are ultimately trivial matters. I urge Your Highness to prioritize national affairs and the greater good..."

Wang Yangming lowered his head, his hands clenched into fists.

Hearing these words, he felt an overwhelming rage in his chest that almost tore him apart.

"But...why is it peace?"

Wang Yangming said in a hoarse voice.

The emperor frowned slightly, and his tone turned cold.

"Minister Wang, that's enough. I've said I'll make it up to you..."

Wang Yangming raised his head, a bitter smile on his face.

"compensate?"

"May I ask Your Majesty, if a person lacks integrity, what kind of person is he?"

"How can a subject who lacks integrity be loyal to his ruler?"

The King of Jin was truly terrified at this moment, and he lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise his head.

The emperor stared intently at Wang Yangming, his gaze sharp and imposing.

The chief eunuch standing nearby was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.

Having served the emperor for so many years, I have never seen any minister dare to speak to the emperor like that.

The key point is that everyone could guess what he was going to say next.

But everyone was waiting, waiting to see if Wang Yangming would dare to say the next sentence.

Wang Yangming met the emperor's gaze directly, without flinching.

He lifted one foot and slowly got up.

His back gradually straightened.

Finally, Wang Yangming spoke.

His words were so powerful that everyone in the imperial study involuntarily knelt down and bowed their heads, not daring to look up.

"May I ask, Your Majesty..."

"If a ruler lacks the trustworthiness of his people, how can he expect his officials to be loyal, and how can he command the submission of the entire realm?"

Upon hearing this, a chorus of kneeling sounds erupted in the imperial study.

Only Wang Yangming remained standing.

The atmosphere in the entire Imperial Study was as heavy as a swamp, making it hard to breathe.

The emperor's hand, resting on the imperial desk, slowly clenched, and the muscles at the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

Veins were bulging on his forehead.

"Wang Yangming, considering your outstanding achievement of passing all three imperial examinations and your exceptional talent, I will give you one last chance. Take back what you said, and I will forgive and forget..."

Wang Yangming remained silent for a moment, then suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly:

"Hahaha... What a fine example of 'forgiving the past'..."

"It seems His Majesty has absolutely no intention of retracting his order?"

The emperor suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice:

"No one can force me to make a choice."

"Wang Yangming...you...aren't you afraid of death?"